Barely two days into the new term, the school had already called an all-student assembly. On stage, young pioneers stood proudly as representatives, addressing their peers. However, Shen Lang, utterly undeterred by the occasion's gravity, couldn't suppress a yawn, a conspicuous lack of interest etched onto his face. Up on stage, his older siblings, Shen Zheng and Shen Nan, exchanged a look of shared understanding. Their brother hadn't changed at all—still the same unruly figure, even in formal settings. Did anything in the world faze him? Was there anything he truly respected?
Ouyang Lan, sitting nearby on the stage, also caught sight of his behavior. She cast a glance toward her class, observing how intently the other students listened to her speech. All except that Shen Lang. It was as though he were deliberately ignoring her, his gaze wandering aimlessly. She had only been in this class for a few days but had already heard tales about him. Not many dared to sit near him, and a few classmates had reportedly been scared to tears by his intimidating presence. She had noticed it herself—those icy, indifferent eyes that seemed to regard everything with a glacial disinterest, as if nothing in the world could soften his gaze.
Yet after a quick glance, Ouyang Lan immediately averted her eyes. She had no desire to look at that stone-cold face, as if he harbored a grudge against the world.
Behind her, Shen Nan bit her lip as she watched Ouyang Lan give her speech, a small surge of resentment bubbling up inside her. By all rights, according to her previous achievements and the original plan, it should have been her standing up there speaking. But with Ouyang Lan's arrival, everything had evaporated like smoke. A touch of defiance lingered within her heart. If it were a fair competition, fine; she could accept losing. But this? Hmph, they'd see who'd have the last laugh. So what if she came from the prestigious Provincial Experimental Elementary? She wasn't that special.
As she mulled over these thoughts, her gaze involuntarily fell on her brother. Should she ask this troublemaker for help? This guy was notorious for causing grief without remorse. Besides, they were in the same class; maybe he could figure something out? But the idea hadn't settled long before Shen Nan shook her head, quickly dismissing it. What was she thinking? Jealousy aside, she'd win fair and square. Any victory gained by other means would be hollow and meaningless. Besides, her little brother was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Asking him for help was probably less effective than approaching Ouyang Lan directly.
That evening, when they returned home, Shen Nan didn't even bother to freshen up before hurrying to the kitchen, where Shen Lang was busy cooking. She approached him with an unusually humble demeanor. "Little brother, can we talk? Just for a bit?"
Shen Lang glanced over his shoulder at his second sister. "I'm busy. If you can wait, we can talk after dinner. And, please, don't bring all that dust into the kitchen. I'd rather not hear you complaining tomorrow about a stomachache and blaming it on me." Without waiting for a response, he returned to his work, his focus unwavering. Behind him, Shen Nan let out a huff and stomped her foot.
Though Shen Nan was, after all, a young girl, her table manners were far from as refined and effortless as Shen Lang's. Watching her brother's graceful poise only made her clench her teeth and silently curse him while trying to keep up with his pace. Sometimes, she wondered where on earth he picked up these manners. The school certainly didn't teach this, and he was barely interested in television. It was just unfair! Was she even still his older sister?
Patiently, Shen Lang tidied up and poured himself a glass of warm water as he did every evening. Without much preamble, he said, "So, second sister, what is it?"
Shen Nan didn't bother with pleasantries. "I want to surpass that Ouyang Lan. But I feel just focusing on grades alone doesn't have enough impact. I want to maintain an edge over her in other ways too. That's the only way I'll feel satisfied. Can you think of something for me? At home, neither my older brother nor I have half as many ideas as you do, so you're my best option. But listen—I want fair competition. I'm not about to stoop to anything underhanded."
Shen Lang glanced over at their older brother, who was watching him with a helpless expression. It was clear he knew his sister's stubborn personality all too well. Never backing down was just how she was. For better or worse, her spirit was indomitable. Now, her only hope lay with her devious little brother, who might indeed have some solution.
Shen Lang considered it for a while, then replied earnestly, "There are ways, but I'm not sure if you'd be able to keep up. Competition between two girls generally falls into two categories: external beauty and inner beauty. As for appearance, that's not something you can decide right now. A pretty face now doesn't guarantee one in the future, and an ugly duckling now might grow into a swan. So the only thing left to compete on is inner beauty. But that inner beauty has many aspects. Take, for instance, knowledge, manners, friendship, compassion, and so on."
Seeing her puzzled expression, Shen Lang elaborated. "For knowledge, just studying textbooks isn't nearly enough. That's only the beginning. There are research projects, published articles, inventions, extracurricular knowledge—these all contribute to your intellectual growth, which, over time, builds your depth and character. But I doubt you'd understand if I went on. Think it over. I'm going back to my room to do my homework." But just as he started to walk away, he paused, waved his hand dismissively, and added, "Never mind. I won't waste any more words. When the time comes, you'll understand."
With that, Shen Lang, in a practiced, almost theatrical flourish, picked up his water glass and headed to his room, leaving his siblings behind, frozen in bewilderment. They stood there, lost in thought, perhaps mulling over some newfound insights.
Despite her confusion, Shen Nan clenched her small fists defiantly. She might not be able to land a punch on her deliberately aloof brother, but at least she could vent some frustration.
On Thursday, as luck—or perhaps poetic justice—would have it, Shen Nan and a teacher happened to pass by the school's secluded garden during lunch, only to stumble upon a group of fifth graders smoking curiously in the shadows. It was a complete sting operation, with not a single one escaping. Given the gravity of the incident and her status as the Young Pioneers' team leader, Shen Nan was mentioned in the afternoon's school broadcast. The students were called out by name, and the consequences were severe, with some even having their parents called in.
The broadcast specifically highlighted Shen Nan's role, as though the entire operation were her doing. Shen Lang couldn't help but wonder: Was his sister merely in the right place at the right time, or had she deliberately led the teacher along that path?